Recreational vehicle user interface

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a method implemented in a Recreational Vehicle User Interface (RVUI) and a corresponding RVUI for controlling one or several functions of a recreational vehicle (RV). A circular-shaped user input element is displayed at a touchscreen of the RVUI. Furthermore, a user input is detected at the touchscreen of the RVUI. This user input comprises a movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input element. The movement is indicative of a request to control a user-selected function of the recreational vehicle. The user-selected function includes any one or a combination of: a climate control function, a heater function, a ventilation function, a water heater function, a vehicle battery function, a light control function, and a security alarm function. Responsive to detecting this user input, control of the user-selected function is initiated, or otherwise triggered.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented in a Recreational Vehicle User Interface, RVUI, of a RV monitoring and control system, which is operable to control at least one function of a recreational vehicle, the method comprising:
 displaying, at a touchscreen of the RVUI, a circular-shaped user input element; and   detecting, at the touchscreen of the RVUI, a user input comprising a movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input element, the movement being indicative of a request to control a user-selected function of the recreational vehicle, wherein the user-selected function includes any one or a combination of: a climate control function, a heater function, a ventilation function, a water heater function, a vehicle battery function, a light control function, and a security alarm function; and   responsive to detecting said user input, initiating control of the user-selected function via the control system to operably control the user-selected function,   wherein the touchscreen is further configured to provide tactile feedback along the displayed circular-shaped user input element such that a user can sense the user's movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input element, the tactile feedback being implemented by a vibration-creating device configured to create vibrations in response to user input in the form of the movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising: transmitting a control signal representative of the user-selected function to a processor for control of the user-selected function. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising: animating, at the touchscreen of the RVUI, rotational movement of the user input along the displayed circular-shaped user input element in a manner that corresponds to the user movement. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the user-selected function is selected prior to the detecting of said user input. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising:
 providing, at the RVUI, at least one input region configured to receive a pressing input, the at least one input region being physically depressible upon receiving the pressing input thereat; wherein   detecting a pressing input being indicative of a request to select said user-selected function of the recreational vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising:
 displaying, at the touchscreen of the RVUI, at least one input region; and   detecting a momentary pressing at the at least one input region and responsive thereto selecting said user-selected function of the recreational vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . A Recreational Vehicle User Interface, RVIU, of a RV monitoring a control system, which is operable to control at least one function of a recreational vehicle, the RVUI comprising:
 a touchscreen configured to display a circular-shaped user input element; wherein   the touchscreen is configured to detect a user input comprising a movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input element, the movement being indicative of a request to control a user-selected function of the recreational vehicle, wherein   the user-selected function includes any one or a combination of: a climate control function, a heater function, a ventilation function, a water heater function, a vehicle battery function, a light control function, and a security alarm function; and wherein   the RVUI is further configured to initiate control of the user-selected function responsive to detecting said user input via the control system to operably control the user-selected function,   wherein the touchscreen is further configured to provide tactile feedback along the displayed circular-shaped user input element such that a user can sense the user's movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input element, the tactile feedback being implemented by a vibration-creating device configured to create vibrations in response to user input in the form of the movement along the displayed circular-shaped user input.   
     
     
         8 . The RVUI according to  claim 7 , wherein the RVUI is configured to transmit a control signal representative of the user-selected function to a processor for control of the user-selected function. 
     
     
         9 . The RVUI according to  claim 7 , wherein the touchscreen is configured to animate rotational movement of the user input along the displayed circular-shaped user input element in a manner that corresponds to the user movement. 
     
     
         10 . The RVUI according to  claim 7 , comprising: at least one input region configured to receive a pressing input, the at least one input region being physically depressible upon receiving the pressing input thereat; wherein the pressing input is indicative of a request to select said user-selected function of the recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The RVUI according to  claim 7 , wherein the touchscreen of the RVUI is configured to display at least one input region; wherein the touchscreen of the RVUI is further configured to detect a momentary pressing at the at least one input region and responsive thereto to select said user-selected function of the recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A user interface panel comprising the RVUI according to  claim 7 , wherein the user interface panel is attachable to a surface of the recreational vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A recreational vehicle comprising the user interface panel according to  claim 12 .